PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man has been charged with intentionally starting three fires over the summer using Molotov cocktails.
Jason Mattis, 49, is charged with three counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device, stemming from two incidents in June and one in July.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Mattis threw the Molotov cocktails onto the porches of three different residences in Tacony.
The Philadelphia Police Department released footage of one of the incidents at the time. The video shows the suspect drive up to a house, get out, light and throw the device, then drive away.
If convicted, Mattis faces up to 30 years in prison.
Editor’s update on April 28, 2025:
Jason Mattis was convicted in September 2024 of possessing an unregistered destructive device. He was sentenced in April 2025 to 10 years in federal prison, with three years of supervised release. Officials said Mattis committed this arson while on state parole for an attempted murder conviction.